Lin Family Dry Noodles

Review

Lin Family Dry Noodles sits at the end of Quanzhou Street, a few steps from Jianguo High School and the Botanical Garden; having fed generations of Jianguo students, it is nicknamed the Jianguo dry noodles. Reports say nearby office workers and taxi drivers are regulars too, and one diner says they have eaten here from primary school into their thirties and always return when back in Taiwan, while their mother started when it was still a street stall.

The dry noodles use Fuzhou-style noodles tossed with lard, shrimp oil and scallions. It's a plain flavor, and you can add black vinegar if you like it stronger. The top soup is the egg and fish ball soup; stirring the soft egg into the noodles makes them silkier. A 2018 report listed small dry noodles at NT$30, large at NT$45 and the egg fish ball soup at NT$35; prices may have changed, so check on site. There are also side dishes.

Diners praise the honest prices, fast service and kind owners, who even top up your soup, calling it one of Taipei's few cheap noodle shops that keep the old flavor. Downsides: weekend queues, crowds at mealtimes, and pressure to eat quickly rather than linger; some feel it's simply home-style and may disappoint high expectations. Diners also note it is cash only.

On weekdays it opens 06:00–14:00 and 16:30–19:30; on Saturday and Sunday it closes at 2 p.m., and it is closed Mondays. Go before 8 a.m. or in the off-peak hours before 2 p.m. to avoid crowds. The nearest MRT stations are Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Xiaonanmen, about a ten-minute walk; the streets nearby are narrow, so walking or scootering is easier.

It suits anyone after a cheap local breakfast or lunch, or a quick hot bowl after visiting the Botanical Garden. First-timers can order large dry noodles with the egg fish ball soup plus a side or two; taste the noodles plain first, then add black vinegar or chili as you like.